It was a sweltering afternoon at Christie Pits.
One of the largest crowds of the season clustered in the shadows under the hillside trees, under umbrellas, or beside walls - anywhere they could escape the punishing rays of the sun. Others reveled in it. They stripped down to the waist and spent the afternoon soaking it up.
The Toronto Maple Leafs wore their classic dark blue V-neck jerseys. The visiting Brantford Red Sox wore scarlet alternates.
The Red Sox have been the dominant team of the IBL this season. They are running away with the league pennant - 10 games ahead of their closest rivals - and they look like they will be unbeatable in the post-season.
Brantford had a 4-0 record against Toronto heading into this afternoon's contest. This figure is somewhat misleading. In most of their previous matchups, the Maple Leafs have demonstrated that they can take these guys... for at least one inning. It's the other eight where things get ugly.
This fact was in evidence today. The Leafs came out of the 1st inning with a 2-1 lead off the bat of Jon Waltenbury, who blasted a home run off the light tower in right field. LIGHT TOWER POWER! Brantford's shellshocked starter, Jamie Richmond, responded with F-bombs that could be heard in the furthest reaches of the Christie hillside. Glass jaw, buddy?
Anyway, like I was saying, the other eight innings still had to be played. As they have done throughout the season, the Red Sox started belting home runs of their own and running up the score. By the top of the 5th, they had an 11-2 lead, Toronto's starter Rick Brooks was out of the game, and the locals had little for which to cheer.
Out in centerfield, Glenn Jackson was taking it in stride.
"You gotta love the game," he said to a handful of people watching from behind the fence. "I used to get mad, but you can't." A fan tossed him a bottle of cold water. He gulped some down between pitches, and continued his commentary. He loved the game. He loved the sunny day, here in this funny little corner of Toronto... this Pit. What more can you ask for? Someone suggested a different scoreline. Sure, but on a day like today, you can't let it get to you.
Jackson is no quitter. He played hard throughout the game. Two innings later, he ran for a hard-hit flyball that went all the way to the centerfield fence. He threw himself at it, crashing into the fence as the ball eluded his glove. Unfazed, he collected the ball and threw it back in, before the pain of the collision forced him to the ground. He'd banged his left knee hard and had to come out of the game. Later, he returned to the home bench with an ice pack on the knee. Despite the score, and the injury, his attitude remained upbeat. No one complained.
It was a great day in the sun. Next January, during some hellacious blizzard, will I remember the final score of this game? Probably not. Instead, I'll remember the heat from the sun, and the players' banter, and being with the fans I like to chat with. I'll especially remember Jackson throwing himself at the fence. The final score won't mean a damn thing.
Recap:
The Brantford Yawn Sox scored a lot of runs and won the game. Glenn Jackson pointed out what's really important.
The Maple Leafs are now 12-17 and in fifth place, 15 games behind Brantford. Their next game is back at the Pits on July 17 against the Hamilton Cardinals.
* We jumped ahead to Game 32. Game 31 was supposed to be against the Guelph Royals on July 13, but both clubs agreed to move it. There is talk of this game now becoming part of a season finale doubleheader on the Monday of the August long weekend. It could be epic.
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